William geay



(No Model.)

W. GRAY;

, BODY PROTECTOR; 7 No. 295,543/ Patented Mar. 25, 1884.

UNITED STATES PATENT Creme.

WVILLIAM GRAY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALE TO WILLIAMW. TUCKER, OF SAME PLACE.

BODY-PROTECTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 295,543, dated March25, 1884.

Application filed October 18, 1883. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM GRAY, of Hart; ford, in the county ofHartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and 5useful Improvements in Body-Protectors, of which the following is adescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, whereFigure l is a view of my device as fastened to the person of aball-player, and showing it in use. Fig. 2 is an edge View of my device,with partcut away to show the interior.

My invention relates to the class of devices used to protect the body ofpersons engaged in athletic sports from blows of the implements used,although it is equally well adapted for a like use in various otheroccupations.

It consists, mainly, of an air cushion of special form, made of anyair-tight material, as indi-a-rubber cloth, the whole having transversecorrugations.

This device is particularly adapted for use by the catcher in baseballgames, as his position, close behindthe batter, in manyinstances, withdead balls and swift pitching, exposes him to painful and dangerousblows from the ball unexpectedly turned from its course,-as

by a foul tip.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter a denotes the cushion as awhole, made of india rubber cloth or other equivalent materialimpervious to air, and having the transverse corrugations b, whichrender the cushion flexible in the direction of its length. This cushionis shaped to conform to the outline of the upper part of the body of thewearer, being broadest about the central part that covers the stomach,cut away at the upper part to allow free motion of the head and arms,and having the nar- 0 .rowedlower part, c, which projects downward,

and while in nowise impeding the movements of the wearer, protects himin all positions. The special function and utility of this part a areobvious by reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings.

A strap, d, fast to the upper edge of the cushion, serves to suspend itfrom the neck oia person, and the belt 6 holds it about the waist.

f, of the form and material common to aircushions, foot-balls, and thelike. I

The protector, when not inflated, canbe readily folded into smallcompass for packing or. transportation, and it is easily and quicklyinflated for use, as by blowing through the valve, opened for thatpurpose and then. closed.

I claim as my invention- 1. As a new article of manufacture, abodyprotector of the within-described class, made of air-tight material,conforming in general outline to the part protected, and having anarrowed lower extremity, the whole provided with means for inflationand for securing it to the body of the wearer, all substantially asdescribed.

2. As a body-protector, the air-cushion, of the within-described shape,having lateral corrugations, whereby the cushion is rendered flexiblelongitudinally, all substantially as def scribed.

3. In combination, the air-cushion a, having the transverse corrugationsb and the narrowed lower extremity, c, the air-valve f, and the strap (1and belt 6, all substantially as described.

WVILLIAM GRAY. Witnesses:

CHAS. L. BURDETT, EDWIN F. DIMocK.

The cushion is inflated by means of the Valve 50

